Automatic boat-detaching apparatus



(No Model.)

Patented Oct. .6, 1891.

as 06., mom-mum, wlsmnavuu, n. c.

NITED STATES BALDY ASHBOURNE OAPEHART, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO POINDEXTER W". OAPEHART, OF RALEIGH,

NORTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 460,556, dated October6, 1891.

Application filed March 14, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BALDY ASHBOURNE CAPEHART, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Boat-DetachingApparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the nvention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The Object of my invention is to provide a clutch for securing andautomatically releasing boats, when lowered to the water from the davitsof vessels, in an efficient, safe, and speedy manner, and this I effectby means of the devices constructed and arranged as shown in thespecification and drawings hereto annexed, in which- Figure 1 representsa boat attached and suspended by my device to and from the davits of avessel; Fig. 2, aside view of the clutch in position while holding aboat in suspension, with one of the side plates broken away; Fig. 3, asimilar view of the clutch when the grip is released; Fig. 4, a separateview of one of the jaws of the clutch, showing the recess 5, adapted toreceive the other jaw, similarly recessed; Fig. 5, avertical sectionthrough line 2 2 of Fig. 2 of the clutch, with the pin D holding thejaws in engagement with the tongue O O; and Fig. 6, a side view of theside plates A A, showingthe slots H I for the locking bolt or pin 1).

A A represent two parallel vertical metal semicircular plates, bothsecured at or near the bow and stern of a boat, and between and throughthese plates, and near the bottom of the space therein inclosed, arepivoted the metal jaws B B, Figs. 2 and 3, by pivots 'b b at the lowerends of said jaws. The diameter of these plates need not be more thanfrom six to eighteen inches and their distance apart from one to sixinches.

The jaws B B cross each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in therecessed parts I) of same Serial No. 384.987. (No model.)

in Fig. l, and are provided at their upper when released from tension byany means these jaws must fall apart and assume the position shown inFig. 3 and release the bolt O C from engagement. The angles of theV-shaped hooks on the jaws B B and the shoulders on the bolt O 0 shouldbe such as are best adapted to secure a firm grip and also to permit theinstantaneous release of the same when the tension is removed, and thisrelease is effected the instant that the boat,

when lowered, touches the water, and its support, being transferred fromthe lines attached to the davits to the water beneath, the jaws B Bautomatically fall apart by gravity, as in Fig. 3, and by no possiblemeans, except manual effort by the parties in the boat, can the 7 5 boltO O and the jaws B B resume their engagement. To supply a means tore-engage the jaws with the bolt and to insure a firm hold by the clutchto secure the boat while in position suspended from the davits at therail of the vessel, I have provided a pin D,

v Fig. 5, having an auger-handle E on one end and the section c of samebeing screw-threaded for the purpose hereinafter shown. The section d atthe other end of this pin is also screw-threaded for a short space andhas a small recessed neck f longer than the thickness of the side plateA, and is terminated with a button or nut 9 larger than the circularopening 2'. inserted in the slots II I in the parallel side plates A A.These slots, large enough to admit the pin D, have at their upper endslarger circular screw-threaded holes he, corresponding, respectively, tothe screw-threaded 95 sections 6 and d of the pin D, and are situatedwith their screw-threaded upper ends just below the lower angle formedby the The 55 This pin D is intended to be crossing of the jaws B B whenthey are in the position shown in Fig. 2that is, when interlocked withthe bolt 0' C.

\Vhen it is desired to raise the boat from the water to the davits andsecure it when in that position, the bolt G C is manually placed inposition, as shown in Fig. 3, and the pin D is raised until therespective screw-threaded ends 6 and d engage the screw-threaded sockets7L and 2', and then by a few turns it will remain fixed at the point ofthe lower angle of intersection of the jaws B B, and thus lock the jawswith the bolt O O, as shown in Fig. 2, and prevent them from fallingapart. When the boat is to be lowered, this pin is unscrewed and dropsto the bottom of the slots, which should be so situated that the pin I)when in such position shall prevent the jaws I3 B from fallingunnecessarily low.

The dimensions and weight of the side plates A A and of the clutch orjaws 13 B and bolt C 0 need be no greater than is requisite for the workto be performed, and a space of a few inches between the two parallelsemicircular plates, with jaws adapted to work snugly and smoothlytherein, would seem to be sufficient both for strength and eiiiciency.These side plates also serve to prevent any lateral motion ordislocation of the jaws, which should till laterally the space betweenthe plates.

I do not claim the broad construction of a securing and releasingapparatus by means of loose jaws engaging a spear-head; but my inventionis based on the relative positions of these two devices and theirpeculiar construction and operation by means of gravity. Neither do Iconfine myself to the exact conformation or position of the foregoingdevices, as shown in the drawings.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

In an automatic clutch for securing, holding, and releasing boats, thecombination of the slotted side plates A A, secured to a boat atsuitable positions, the jaws B B, pivoted between said plates andcrossing each other and having V-shaped hooks, the bolt C (I, havingshoulders adapted to interlock with the V-shaped hooks on the jaws B I3,and the screw-threaded pin D, adapted to engage and operate within thescrew-threaded openings 7?, t' in said plates, all constructed andarranged to operate as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

B. ASIIBOURNE CAPEIIART.

Vitncsses:

II. V. HUGHES, A. S. CHATFIELD.

